Kobori joins Ryan Fox and Daniel Hillier as Kiwis in the field at Royal Birkdale in his third major appearance after missing cuts at the PGA Championship and The Open in 2024.
Stunning practice-round weather gave way to rain on the opening day of the championship, as temperatures plummeted and forced players to play improvised and resourceful golf in challenging conditions at Millbrook Resort near Queenstown.
Sure to attract plenty of support from the local fans, the contingent includes Kazuma Kobori, Michael Hendry, Nick Voke, Kerry Mountcastle, Josh Geary and Tyler Hodge – all established winners on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
A day after recording a hole-in-one, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori carded a sensational 63 to upstage big names such as former champions Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott on day two at the Australian PGA, before darkness suspended play Friday at Royal Queensland.
World No.418 Sebastian Garcia blitzed the Royal Queensland layout in seven-under-par for the 15 holes he completed in the afternoon wave before storms halted play early.
Alex Noren captured the British Masters, defeating Kiwi Kazuma Kobori by a shot, but it was the Dane’s qualification for next month’s Ryder Cup that captured just as much attention.
The very best of New Zealand men’s golf are en route to the BMW Australian PGA Championship with two-time PGA Tour winner Ryan Fox to lead a resurgent Kiwi assault at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
An Order of Merit champion crowned, global opportunities created and futures secured on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. All will unfold this week at the final event of the 2023-2024 season, The National Tournament presented by BMW at the iconic The National Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Ask those who have spent the summer finishing second to Kazuma Kobori on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and you invariably get the same response:
Gale is eyeing one of the three cards on the DP World Tour on offer, a target that is now clearly in view with just two events left in the PGA Tour of Australasia season.
Gale now has the DP World Tour in his sights, with a jump on the Order of Merit potentially putting one of the three available cards in reach with two tournaments remaining on this season of the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Finally getting the chance to show off its best side after the two previous tournaments were hampered by heavy rain, the Cypress Lakes course is becoming familiar for the tour’s regulars, even more so for those who competed in Jack Newton Junior Golf events here as youngsters.
The former amateur star was excited to learn his third win in his 10th start as a professional means Kobori has the same win record as Tiger Woods at the same stage of his early life as a pro.
Australian Golf Digest
